Goodbye Arthur, hello Fourth of July!

Saturday

Jul 5, 2014 at 10:32 PMJul 5, 2014 at 11:11 PM

WORCESTER — Mother Nature made a rain date look like it was meant to be for the city's annual Independence Day celebration at Cristoforo Columbo Park Saturday night. Thousands flocked to Shrewsbury Street to get arguably the best spot to view the fireworks display, which followed a performance into dusk by the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra.

By Steven H. Foskett Jr. TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — Mother Nature made a rain date look like it was meant to be for the city's annual Independence Day celebration at Cristoforo Columbo Park Saturday night.

Thousands flocked to Shrewsbury Street to get arguably the best spot to view the fireworks display, which followed a performance into dusk by the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra.

Thunderous explosions blasted out of the cloudless sky just after 9:30 p.m. Nearly the entire length of Shrewsbury Street adopted a festival atmosphere; a live band played in the rear of one restaurant; tents were set up in parking lots, and politicians vied for space near the entrances to the former East Park.

People didn't restrict themselves to Shrewsbury Street, either. Crowds gathered wherever the view was good. A couple set up chairs in front of the St. Vincent Cancer & Wellness Center at the corner of Front and Foster streets; families set up viewing areas at the edge of the McGrath parking lot next to the Worcester Public Library.

For Louise Noonan of Sterling, the city park that hosts the annual celebration will always be East Park.

Ms. Noonan's father, Armen R. Sarkisian, owned the former Sarkisian's Service Station, now Gentile's, across the street from the park.

"Needless to say, I grew up on Shrewsbury Street," Ms. Noonan said.

Ms. Noonan said she enjoys coming for the music, but said of course the fireworks are great, too.

"It's just a beautiful night to be out, just enjoying this," Ms. Noonan said.

Ms. Noonan sat just beyond left field of the baseball diamond with Mary Colby. The two are both retired nurses, and Ms. Colby is also an Army veteran; Ms. Noonan said hospital staff used to get a great view of the fireworks from Memorial Hospital on Belmont Street.

He picks a different spot every year, but on Saturday Hector Matias and his family decided to stake out a spot on the hill behind the pavilion.

The annual tradition has a little more sentimental value to Mr. Matias and his wife, Esmerelda. He said he first asked her out while they watched the fireworks from Belmont Street Community School on the other side of the park.

"Up there you could feel the impact of the explosions," Mr. Matias said.